Finite Element Simulation and Experimental Study of a Redesigned Solar Thermal Prototype with Parabolic Concentration

This study proposes a novel redesign of a solar water heater prototype by integrating a stationary compound parabolic concentrator (CPC) internally within a standard collector housing. Unlike conventional flat-plate systems or external trough collectors, this design aims to enhance thermal efficiency while maintaining a compact footprint suitable for residential retrofitting in tropical climates. The system’s thermal performance was analyzed using a 3D finite element method (FEM) based on the convection-diffusion equation, with a specific focus on a 2 cm focal length configuration designed to fit spatial constraints. The simulation results indicated a maximum water temperature of 62.9 °C under concentrated solar flux, while the experimental prototype achieved a maximum temperature of 55.0 °C under corresponding field conditions. The comparative analysis reveals a temperature discrepancy of approximately 8 °C (12.5%), which is attributed to the simplified boundary conditions neglecting radiative losses in the model. Despite this deviation, the proposed parabolic design demonstrated a distinct thermal enhancement compared to the conventional baseline. These findings validate the technical feasibility of the compact internal concentrator, offering a low-cost, high-performance alternative for domestic water heating applications.